Kanye West rips Beck: ‘He should’ve given his award to Beyoncé’

When Kanye West rushed the Grammys stage Sunday night after Beck’s “Morning Phase” was named Album of the Year, a brief moment of shock swept through the audience. Was it a stunt referencing the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, during which Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift and said her statue should have gone to Beyoncé? Well, Kanye says it wasn’t a joke.

“I didn’t say anything tonight. But you all know what it meant when ‘Ye walks on the stage,” West said on E!’s “Live from the Red Carpet” after-party broadcast. “Beck needs to respect artistry and he should have given his award to Beyoncé,” West said, going on to talk about “diminishing art and not respecting the craft.”

Beck, who seemed shocked to earn the award during his speech Sunday night, didn’t let West’s comments bother him, telling People that he thought Bey was going to win too. “You can’t please everybody,” Beck said in response to West’s remarks. “I still love him and think he’s genius.”